After five years away from the Big Bash League, the Sydney Sixers have announced the signing of Mitchell Starc for BBL|10, while Melbourne Stars have confirmed the arrival of English international Jonny Bairstow.
Having missed the last half-decade of the competition due to international commitments and injury troubles, Starc will return to the tournament with the team he first played for back in the inaugural season, when the Sixers were crowned champions.
With the upcoming Australia-India Test series, his availability in the side is surrounded by a cloud of uncertainty and dependant on international selection. Although, with the Test series scheduled to end January 19, it will not interfere with the last three games of the tournament or the finals.
With Starc’s white-ball expertise, his signing is set to bolster the Sixers’ pace bowling as the club look to defend their title.
In the first year of the Big Bash, Starc finished as the third-highest wicket-taker with 13 in six matches and was a key piece of the Sixers’ attack. From then until his final year in BBL|04, the quick played another four matches where he took seven more wickets.
“I started at the Sixers at BBL01 and it’s nice to continue that journey at a club I’ve still been around with my wife Alyssa involved with the Sixers,” Starc said.
“I’m just really looking forward to being back with some of my really close mates that play for NSW and the Sixers. There’s some great people at the Sixers behind the scenes too.”
The Stars have also confirmed a superstar signing, bringing in English wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow.
The 31-year-old is no stranger to the T20 format, scoring 345 runs from 11 innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year’s IPL – one of which was a game-winning 97 from 55 balls.
The World Cup-winner has an exemplary record against the white ball, with a career batting average of 28 in the format.
“I’m really pleased to have signed with the Stars. I’ve always watched the BBL no matter where I’ve been in the world and it will be nice to finally be a part of it. I know the Stars are one of the competition’s profile clubs and have a track record of being in contention in finals,” Bairstow said.
“The list is looking good and I can’t wait to get involved alongside Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa who I’ve been playing against during the IPL.”
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